Flexible chain extension or shank for tools with lock link features



Hf B. JONES FLEXIBLE -CHAIN- EXTENSION OR SHANK FOR T ooLs June l5, 1965I WITH Loox LINK FEATURES Filed Jan. 21. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4

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United States Patent C 3,188,395 FLEXIBLE CHAIN EXTENSION R SHANK FORTOGLS WITH LUCK LINK FEATURES Hubert B. Jones, 829 Kenmore Blvd., Akron,@bio Filed Ian. Z1, 1964, Ser. No. 339,193 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-I77) Thisinvention relates to a iiexible chain extension or shank for tools,which links of the chain extension can be locked in fixed relationshipto set the position of the chain after it has been iiexibly bent to thedesired shape in order to provide extensions for socket wrench sets andthe like to facilitate the application of the tools to, and the use oftools in hard-to-get places.

This invention is an improvement of my previous patent entitled FlexibleExtension or Shank for Tools, Patent No. 3,002,409. This patent helpseliminate the typical problem, for example in U.S. Patent No. 1,316,398,and my previous patent where the links of the chain are so free andiioppy in the plane in which they have bending movement that control ofthe tool is diiiicult and annoying. It is highly desirable to provide aflexible extension which can then be made rigid and xed for applicationto nuts and bolts in locations where known tool equipment cannotfunction eiiciently, or at all.

f Therefore, it is the general object of the present invention to avoidand overcome the foregoing and diiiiculties of and objections to priorart practices of the type described by the provision of relativelysimple, inexpensive and practically flexible extensions or Shanks fortools of `the type described Which can be made iixed and rigid afterbeing adapted to the proper position, and which extensions willfacilitate and aid a mechanic and a machinist in performing machine workotherwise impossible, particularly annoying, or diiiicult to performbecause of the inaccessibility of the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible extension orshank for a tool made from a flexible chain link whereby the links canbe selectively locked in iixed relationship to each other by means ofsmall Wrenches carried in a shank member affixed to one end of thelinked cnam.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chairr link extensionfor a socket type tool whereby longitudinally split sleeves hold thechain links together and tapered bolt means are adapted to spread thesplit sleeves so the sleeves engage the links and selectively lock theminto fixed relationship with each other after the chain link extensionhas been adjusted to the proper position.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing ina tool the combination of a plurality of chain links, a plurality ofhollow longitudinally split sleeve means pivotally connecting the chainlinks together to provide a linked chain freely bendable in one planebut not bendable in any other, an internally threaded spacer meansslidably received inside each split sleeve means, tapered bolt meansoperatively screwed into said internally threaded spacer means andadapted to engage the inner surface of said split sleeve means to beselectively locked lin fixed relationship, a socket secured at one endof the chain and adapted to removably receive in plug-in fashion thepolygonal post of a handle, and a polygonal post secured to the otherend of the chain and adapted to removably receive in plug-on fashion thesocket of a tool.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of a flexibleextension incorporating the principles of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of an embodiment of the invention inwhich a handle is permanently secured to a flexible shank;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a straight handle adapted tobe removably secured in the socket end of the extension of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a ratchet handle adapted tobe secured in the socket portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a rotary type handle adaptedto be removably secured in the socket portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a socket adapted to be removably securedin the plug end of the extension of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE '7 is a perspective view of an open-ended wrench having a socketportion adapted to be removably secured in the plug of the extension ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a closed-end Wrench having a socketportion adapted to be removably secured in the plug of the extension ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the link lockingfeatures of the invention taken on line 9 9 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE l0 is a plan view of the split sleeve and tapered locking nutsutilized to achieve the locking features of the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a polygonal plug attachmentoperatively afHxed by locking means to the end of the chain which plugcarries locking wrenches in its body portion;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevation of the polygonal plug of FIGURE 11;and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a nut in ahard-to-reach position showing how the extension of the invention iseasily formed to reach the nut and that it can be locked in thisposition.

With specific reference to the drawings, in FIGURE 1, the numeral 10indicates generally a pivoted link chain freely bendable in one planeand having little or no bending movement in any other plane. Secured toone end of the chain is a socket member I2 adapted to removably receivein a socket recess I4 a polygonal plug of any one of a plurality ofhandles, for example, such as shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5.

The handle of FIGURE 3 includes a polygonal plug 16 and a spring detent1S adapted to be removably received in the socket opening 14 of thesocket 12.

FIGURE 4 shows a ratchet type handle with a ratchet mechanism 2li,handle 22, and a polygonal plug 24 which includes a spring detent 26adapted to be removably received in the socket opening I4 of the socket12.

The handle of FIGURE 5 includes a handle portion 28 rotatably receivinga rotary brace 30 which terminates in a polygonal plug 32 having aspring detent 34, and with the plug 3.?. removably fitting in the socketopening 14 of the socket I2.

9 v d The other end of the chain 10 has secured thereto a polygonal plug36 having a spring detent 3S, the plug 36V being adapted to removablylit in any of a plurality of tools, for example, those shown in FIGURES6 tov 8.v

In FIGURE 6 Vis shown a socket 40 having an opening 42 adapted to tit acertain size nut or bolt head, the other end of the socket having anopening 44 adapted to removably receive the polygonal 36. Y FIGURE 7shows an open end wrench 46 having a socket opening 48 adapted toremovably receive the polygonal plug 36. The socket opening 48 isadapted to receive the plug 36 and the spring detent 38 in such relationthat the at plane of the wrench 46 lis parallel tothe pivotstorque canbe applied through the cha-in to rotate the rliatY Wrench in its ownplane. y

However, although it is desirable to mount the wrenches 46 orV 50 or thesocket 40 to insure that they are parallel i 4 can be selectively lockediniixed relation to each other simply by tightening the set screws tospread the sleeves holding the links together.. As a convenient means tohave wrenches available to effect the locking of the set screws, theinvention con-templates that a polygonal shank 82 as shown in FIGURE 11,is operatively a'ixed to links 62a by means of. a sleeve set screwarrangement, indicated generally by numeral 60a.

The shank 82 contains a polygonal plug 84 having a detent 86 thereon.The shank 82 also contains a pair of elongated slots 88 and 90 adaptedto receive a pair of Allen set screw wrenches 92 and 94, respectively. Aremovable collar 96 is operatively positioned over the ends of theWrenches 92 and 94 and held in'position on the shank by a spring loadeddetent` 98. Thus, the setr screw WrenchV 92 f and 94.y are operatively ppositioned in the shank 82 for ready access to lock or unlock the. linkportions of the extensionA of the invention, as described above withreference to FIGURES 9 and 10.

to the 4pivotsin the chain soY that torque isfapplied through y thechain, it is not absolutely necessary, as the essential and'limportantfeatureof the vinvention is that the individual linksr of the-chain canbe locked intixed relationship to each other. In order to understandthis relationship, reference should be had to FIGURE 9, wherein it isshown that the locking mechanismcomprises an outer sleeve 60 extendingthrough aligned holes in aplurality of stacked chain links 62.v Ashorter internally threaded spacery member 64 is slidably receivedinside the outer sleeve 60. A pair of tapered socket head set screws 66and 68, respectively, are threadably received in thev in- Vterrialthreads of thel spacer member 64. Tapered portions 70 and '72,respectively, of the setscrews 66 and 68 engage the internal surfaces ofthe outer sleeve 60 exert-ing outward pressure thereon as they arescrewed down into the sp-acer member 64. With reference to FIGURE l0, itis seen that the outer sleeve 60 contains a longitudinal split 74extending the length thereof. Therefore, as the tapered surfaces 70 and72 of the set screws 66 and 68 are K screwed tightly into the spacermember 64, the outer sleeve 1 isv spread-apart along slit 74 to eifect abinding, locking action as the sleeve 60 engages against the surfaces ofthe holes in the links 62. A similar set screw locking sleevearrangement is incorporated to join all of the links of the chain aswell as to join the socket member 12 and the polygonal plug 36.

Also, as an important feature of the invention, it is contemplated thatthe spacer member 64 will be considerably shorter in length" than thesleevev 60 so that the ta-Y pered portions'70 and 72 ofthe set screws 66and 68 can adequately engage the inner portion of the sleeve 60 toeffect the spreading action described above.

and 72,` as indicated-by the angle 80 on ,surface 72, will bebetweenabout 15 to about 2O degrees to eiect the spreading lockingaction on the sleeve 60 as the set screws are'screwed into the spacermember y64.'` It is contemplated'that both `set-`screws66 and 63 yWillbescrewed into the opposed internally threaded portions ofthe spacermember together to effect anequalspreading action to be internallytapered to receive the tapered surfaces 70 and 72 of the set screws 66and 68, so that a smooth spreading action will be obtained when the setscrews 66 and 68 are tightened. p Y

Thus, it is seen that any and all of the links in the chain Y Also, itisV contemplated that the tapered relation ofthe surfaces 70 f FIGURE 13illustrates the chain 10 bent and Vlocked into position so that asocket100 is adapted to be positioned over a nearly inaccessible nut 102. Notethe relationship` of'an extended shank portion 82a in thissituation'with a knurled handleV B2b attached thereto. It iscontemplated that in the unlocked relation the link chain 10 will bestiff enough so that after it has been flexibly l adjusted to position,it can beremoved without losing the desired adjustment andfjthenlockedin position so that when force is applied to remove the vnut 102,the tool will act as a solid member. Also, it should be noted that withthelinkvchainlt) lockedinto fixed relationship, torque may be appliedboth lin theplane of the links and normal'to the plane of the links.However, it is generally best to force the plane of the links to preventundue stress on the locked links. Y Y

Thus, it is seen that-an improved link chain extension which Ycan belocked into position for access to nearly vinaccessible nuts andn boltshas been provided. The locking is achieved byispreading a longitudinallysplit sleeve by means of taperedset-screws engaging a spacer member andbeing screwed thereinto to effect the spreading of the spacer sleeve.The locking wrenches can be' carried in a shank portion adjacent thehandle of the link chain extension. v v

While in accordance with the patent statutes, only one best knownembodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detil,it is to be particularly understood thatthe invention is not limitedthereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

Y 1. An extension for a set of socket Wrenches or the like includingafpivoted link chain comprising a plurality of links freely bendable inone plane, but not bendable in any other,

/a socket secured at one end ofthe chain and adapted to removablyreceive Vin plug-in fashion the polygonal post of a handle,k i

a polygonal post secured to the other end of the chain Y and adapted toremovably receive in plug-on fashion the socket of atool,

a plurality of sleeves split their full longitudinal length along asingle line connectingthe links :of the chain together and connectingthe socket andthe polygonal post to their respective ends of the chain,

an internally threadedV spacer Ymember slidably received inside eachsleeve, andv tapered bolt means removably screwedinto each end ofsaidjspacermembers and engaging the inner surface a of said sleeveseffecting spreading thereof equally l along the full length ofthe singleline split to selectively lock the links, socket, and polygonal postinto xed relationship to each other.

f 2. Inan extension 'for a set of socket wrenches or the like thecombination lof y a pivoted link chain comprising a plurality of linksfreely bendable in one plane, out not bendable in any other,

a socket secured at one end of the chain and adapted to movably receivein plug-in fashion the polygonal post of a handle,

a polygonal post secured to the other end of the chain and adapted toremovably receive in plug-on fashion the socket of a tool,

a plurality of sleeves split their full longitudinal length along asingle line connecting the links of the chain together and connectingthe socket and the polygonal post to the respective ends of the chain,and

- tapered lock bolt means removably screwed into each end of saidsleeves and engaging the inner surface of said sleeves to etect equalspreading thereof at the split along their full length whereby saidchain links are uniformly engaged by said split sleeves to selectivelylock the links, socket, and polygonal post into fixed relationship toeach other.

References Citeri ley the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WLLAM FELDMAN,Primary Examiner.

MILTN S. MEHR, Examiner.

1. AN EXTENSION FOR A SET OF SOCKET WRENCHES OR THE LIKE INCLUDING APIVOTED LINK CHAIN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LINKS FREELY BENDABLE INONE PLANE, BUT NOT BENDABLE IN ANY OTHER, A SOCKET SECURED AT ONE END OFTHE CHAIN AND ADAPTED TO REMOVABLE RECEIVE IN PLUG-IN FASHION THEPOLYGONAL POST OF A HANDLE, A POLYGONAL POST SECURED TO THE OTHER END OFTHE CHAIN AND ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY RECEIVE IN PLUG-ON FASHION THE SOCKETOF A TOOL, A PLURALITY OF SLEEVES SPLIT THEIR FULL LONGITUDINAL LENGTHALONG A SINGLE LINE CONNECTING THE LINKS OF THE CHAIN TOGETHER ANDCONNECTING THE SOCKET AND THE POLYGONAL POST TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ENDS OFTHE CHAIN, AN INTERNALLY THREADED SPACER MEMBER SLIDABLY RECEIVED INSIDEEACH SLEEVE, AND TAPERED BOLT MEANS REMOVABLY SCREWED INTO EACH END OFSAID SPACER MEMBERS AND ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVESEFFECTING SPREADING THEREOF EQUALLY ALONG THE FULL LENGTH OF THE SINGLELINE SPLIT TO SELECTIVELY LOCK THE LINKS, SOCKET, AND POLYGONAL POSTINTO. FIXED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER.